Seeking a Project Co-ordinator

We’re seeking a Project Coordinator!

Passionate about working to address the housing crisis in Greater Manchester? Want to be part of the movement for change?

With the fight for our decent, secure, affordable housing more urgent than ever, Greater Manchester Housing Action (GMHA) is looking to engage a freelance coordinator for our Let’s Talk About Housing project. The coordinator will work alongside GMHA Steering Group members and other housing activist groups to promote public understanding of the housing crisis.

Let’s Talk About Housing aims to deliver a programme of radical education in communities across Greater Manchester on the political economy of the housing crisis, giving people from diverse communities the confidence and training to speak about their experiences of the housing crisis. The project will also run a number of high-profile speaker events where national housing experts draw attention to the problems Greater Manchester face.

The ideal applicant will have experience in community organising and/or event and project management as well as a commitment to tackling issues of social injustice. While an understanding of housing in Greater Manchester would be beneficial, you do not have to be an expert. You will need to be organised and be able to work independently.

At present, GMHA is a young organisation run by volunteers. We have been awarded funding to hire a part-time organiser on a freelance basis, specifically for Let’s Talk About Housing. Please visit gmhousingaction.com for more information on GMHA. Please get in touch on applicationsgmha@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Deadline for applications is 23:59, Wednesday 26th September.

Terms and conditions

Period: October 2018 to April 2019 inclusive

Expected hours: 14 per week

Pay: £10.20 per hour

Location: Greater Manchester

Reporting to: GMHA Steering Group

Application deadline: 23:59, 26th September 2018

Interviews: Friday 5th October 2018

NB The majority of the work will need to take place during weekday working hours, the particulars of which can be arranged with GMHA at the point of engagement. However, some evening work (meetings and events) will be required. The contractee will be required to send a weekly, written report to the Steering Group about their activities and will be expected to attend all Steering Group meetings and all events organised.

The project coordinator will be engaged on a self-employed basis and will therefore be responsible for their own tax and NI. They will need to be based in Greater Manchester and be within commutable distance to Manchester city centre.

How to apply

Please send a CV and short covering letter covering the main three questions below (the statement should be no more than two-pages in length).

Your covering letter should answer the following questions:

Why are you applying for this contract?

What relevant experience do you have for this role?

What excites you about working with GMHA?

You should send your application to applicationsgmha@gmail.comby no later than 23:59 on 26th September 2018 with the subject title: [Your Name] PROJECT COORDINATOR APPLICATION

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview on Friday 5th October 2018. We will inform the successful applicant the following week. We hope the successful will start on 29th October or as soon as possible after that date.

All applications will be anonymised in the shortlisting process. The process is being coordinated by members of the GMHA Steering Group. If you have any questions please email gmhousingaction@gmail.com.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Project manage Let’s Talk About Housing, monitoring plans and implement design and delivery decisions on time

Help shape the content of the project, suggesting your own ideas for the events

Coordinate a wider team of support in the GMHA Steering Group to ensure tasks are assigned and delivered

Liaise with the venue, speakers and contracted companies, and manage related processes

Lead on publicity and the promotion of the event, managing ticketing and ensuring high attendance rates

Lead the event production for each event/workshop: directing the setting up, speakers, volunteer management and closing down of the event, directing a team of volunteers

Respond to enquiries about the day from attendees, speakers, the media and others

Manage the post-event process, including leading the write-up of the evaluation of the project as a whole

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

Registered self-employed worker

Committed to the mission of GMHA and passionate about social justice and tackling the UK housing crisis

Excellent communication skills (both verbal and written)

Ability to work independently and effectively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment without regular supervision

Proven project management skills - able to manage competing deadlines and priorities and effectively manage your time around strict deadlines

Exceptional event organisation experience - with strong knowledge of all aspects of event organisation, from logistics, to health and safety and managing high profile speakers

Experience of social media management across a number of different channels and platforms

Desirable

Experience of community organising and/or campaigning on the issue of housing/homelessness

Good working knowledge of the housing crisis in Greater Manchester and nationally, and its impacts

Experience of working as part of a team and of building, fostering and supporting teams of people

Experience of workshops of production/facilitation

We are committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone regardless of their background. We acknowledge that people from certain backgrounds are under-represented in progressive movements and we’re committed to doing what we can to correct this. We are particularly keen to receive applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic people; people with disabilities; people who identify as being LGTBQIA; people who have a mental health condition; and people who identify as working class or have done so in the past.